On April 10, 2025, crypto insurance startup Meanwhile announced it has raised $40 million in a Series A funding round, aimed at expanding its Bitcoin-denominated whole life insurance product. The company is targeting customers in regions vulnerable to inflation, offering an alternative insurance product that is not based on fiat currency.

The round was co-led by Framework Ventures and Fulgur Ventures, with participation from Xapo founder Wences Casares. Meanwhile had previously raised $20.5 million in seed funding, with notable investors including Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.

Meanwhile is regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority and offers whole life insurance policies denominated in Bitcoin. Policyholders pay premiums in Bitcoin and can access the policy's value through loans or partial withdrawals. Upon the insured’s death, the beneficiaries receive the payout in Bitcoin.

A New Kind of Insurance for an Inflation-Hit World

Meanwhile co-founder Zac Townsend told Fortune that the product functions similarly to traditional whole life insurance, but with premiums and payouts entirely in Bitcoin. He noted that the offering is especially suited for individuals living in regions with high inflation or unstable currencies—for example, emerging markets experiencing currency volatility or Western economies facing long-term inflation.

Why Use Bitcoin as a Life Insurance Asset?

Bitcoin’s fixed supply and decentralized design have long made it attractive to early adopters as a potential hedge against inflation. However, whether Bitcoin truly serves as a reliable inflation hedge remains debated.

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Economics and Business found that Bitcoin's ability to counter inflation has weakened due to increasing correlation with institutional investor demand. For instance, during the 2022 U.S. inflation surge—when inflation hit a 40-year high of over 9%—Bitcoin prices fell by 60%, the study noted.

Still, some analysts disagree. They argue that Bitcoin’s rise during the pandemic was driven by investor anticipation of inflation caused by government stimulus measures. Crypto investor Anthony Pompliano said, “When investors sense inflation is coming, they rush to buy Bitcoin.”

Regardless of whether Bitcoin strictly meets the criteria of a classic “inflation hedge,” its long-term performance has significantly outpaced the depreciation of fiat currencies since its inception.